Ilaiyaraaja wins court nod to sue 'Dude' producers and Sony Music for unauthorized song use

Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has filed a lawsuit against the producers of the Tamil film Dude and Sony Music Entertainment India, alleging the unauthorized use of his songs in the movie. The Madras High Court has permitted him to proceed with legal action, intensifying the ongoing copyright dispute. The next hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2025.

The film Dude , directed by Keerthiswaran and starring Pradeep Ranganathan, has become a commercial success, reportedly earning over ₹75 crore within its first three days of release. However, it is now embroiled in legal controversy due to the alleged unauthorized use of two of Ilaiyaraaja's songs. The composer claims that his tracks were used without permission, violating his moral rights under Section 57 of the Copyright Act, 1957.

This legal action follows a similar dispute earlier this year, where Ilaiyaraaja sued Mythri Movie Makers, the production company behind Dude , for the unauthorized use of his songs in their film Good Bad Ugly . In that case, the Madras High Court issued an interim injunction, leading to the removal of the disputed songs from streaming platforms.

Ilaiyaraaja's legal team contends that Sony Music has not responded to their concerns, and the disputed songs continue to be used in Dude . The Madras High Court has directed Sony Music to provide details of the revenue generated from the commercial use of Ilaiyaraaja's compositions.

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the music and film industries, particularly concerning the rights of composers and the use of their works in modern media.